Pie to die for but room to improve
THE village of Holywell, near Whitley Bay, is one I’ve long admired and even fantasised about living in (although I’m not sure how well the Eatsmobile would fit in there).
Having heard that the Milbourne Arms there had started offering food a year or so ago, I was keen to see if it lived up to my idealised notions.
Our first impressions were that it’s a light and airy place with very fresh-looking decor.
It was also clear that it’s pretty popular with both drinkers and diners, so it was more in hope than expectation that I asked one of the barmaids if there was a table available for two.
She consulted a reservations book then directed us to a few
MILBOURNE ARMS
Holywell Close, Holywell, Whitley Bay NE25 0LL. Tel: 0191 298 0568
Food served (Sun): 12-5 Rating: 13/20
Character........................... Quality................................ Service................................ Value................................... tables she said were free – for the time being at least. We set ourselves down at the one without a sign, only for the man in charge to tell us (rather gruffly, it must be said) that he’d have to move us as the tables were soon to be needed. We ended up at a corner table underneath the dartboard next to a radiator which Mrs E was pleased to find was on. So was our meal on target? There was a disappointment to begin with, as w e ’ d Car park..................... Kids allowed........... Real ale..................... Wine by the bottle........................ Credit cards..................................... Disabled toilets............................. Vegetarian food........................... (One vegetarian main course) both fancied starting our meal with some soup. The Milbourne Arms offers only main courses and desserts on Sundays – but were assured the portions would satisfy us. The meats on offer were chicken, lamb, pork and beef, all going for around £10-£11. Mrs E, unable to decide which would best sate her, opted for the ‘trio’ of meats (lamb, pork and beef ) for £11.95. Conscious that I may have neglected vegetarian Sunday diners over the years, I went for the goat’s cheese, broccoli, spinach and caramelised red onion pie (£7.95), which was the only alternative to the roasts. We had to wait too long in Mrs E’s opinion – although I think 20 minutes wasn’t unreasonable given we were fitted in without a booking. My meal was certainly worth waiting for. The pie, served, as both dishes were, with a good selection of vegetables, a Yorkshire pudding and gravy, was sensational.
The light pastry was just right blend of the cheese and the other fillings was so delectable that I ended up mashing the pie up with everything else to get a taste of it with every forkful.
Mrs E commented on the creaminess of the mash and the pleasant taste of the swede (I concurred) but declared her Yorkshire was not warm enough, so it was largely untouched.
She was very happy with her pork, crackling, lamb and slice of black pudding, but said the beef was too chewy for her and didn’t seem as high-quality as the other meats on her plate.
The portions were good but not crazy, so we waited eagerly to be offered desserts. This we did in vain; I went to the bar to order after 10 minutes or so.
There was another wait which Mrs E considered too long for our sweets – hot apple pie (£3.95) and chocolate fudge cake (£3.95) – but they were fine when they came.
Mrs E said her crumble was light with plenty of apple, while the cake was pleasant enough for me to finish, but nothing particularly special.
The pub acquitted itself well, with satisfying offerings in a pleasant environment, although the staff were a bit too rushed off their feet on the day to keep it spick and span.
That pie, though, will live long in my memory. I’d return just to have it again.